Steinbeck’s tough yet charming portrait of people on the margins of society, dependant on one another for both physical and emotional survivalA Penguin Classic Published in 1945, Cannery Row focuses on the acceptance of life as it is: both the exuberance of community and the loneliness of the individual. Drawing on his memories of the real inhabitants of Monterey, California, including longtime … Monterey, California, including longtime friend Ed Ricketts, Steinbeck interweaves the stories of Doc, Dora, Mack and his boys, Lee Chong, and the other characters in this world where only the fittest survive, to create a novel that is at once one of his most humorous and poignant works. In her introduction, Susan Shillinglaw shows how the novel expresses, both in style and theme, much that is essentially Steinbeck: “Scientific detachment, empathy toward the lonely and depressed . . . and, at the darkest level . . . the terror of isolation and nothingness.”
For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,800 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.
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‘a timeless classic. Author was a word-smith…….not many of them left today, sadly enough.
Historical fiction of the Monterey coastal area in the early 1900’s. Fascinating glimpse into the world of marine science and economics. Unique short reading about California that only John Steinbeck can do.
Great book. Steinbeck is a very good author. He has never disappointed me yet.
I love John Steinbeck and both Cannery Row and Sweet Thursday the other book in this short series are wonderful books. He is an amazing writer, his characters are American originals and their lives are worth following for the brief time he spotlights them. The setting is Monterey when the fish canning businesses were still in operation and before it became Chic. It’s a step back in time.
pretty dumb book, but that’s typical of john steinbeck
Human beings in all their warts and glory.
Classic Steinbeck — so well-written, such a vivid picture of a portion of society otherwise unknown to most of us. A great read.
This is my 3ed time to read this book one of the greats, must read.
Obviously an American classic; and for good reason.
This story meanders along, to no absolute ending..
Loved this — saw the movie, but the books are always better, and this was no exception.
Loved this as a teen but, 35 years later, I was sad to find it didn’t charm me the second time around.
One of my favorite from the classics.
Read several times over the years. Great story.
Love the quirky characters!
a classic
Loved the images of Monterrey, California in the big fishing days of the early 20th century. As always, Steinbeck excels at drawing characters and placing them in interesting situations. The cast here is colorful, real, sad, funny, exciting and, like so many of us, full of hopes. Failure is always possible… but so is success. Great story had me laughing, crying, shaking my head. I’ll
Read anything he writes.
Very unusual snd interesting. Characters came alive and the various plots intertwined wonderfully. Very good book
Fabulous book. It’s Steinbeck and therefore always good
A Steinbeck classic